( I hope everyone continues to read, enjoy & review)
Adam was trying not to pace the room. He kept sitting down tapping his foot, getting up again, rubbing his hands the nerves getting to him when there was a knock on his door. He moved towards it his teeth scraped his upper lips taking a deep breath before opening it seeing Eve there he gave a nervous smile moving to let her come in.
"Damn Adam you would almost think you were waiting for Patty herself."
"Trust me Eve I wish I was…so…how did it go?"
"Looks like the other girls believed her." Eve smiled lightly "She had a shine to her eyes when we got her to open the box. I think she wanted to cry with joy, but that would of ruined the whole she bought them herself thing. It was almost as if she never received a gift before."
Adam sighed looking down. "From what I heard today I am thinking she hasn't at least not for a long time." He turned his head looking at Eve. "The bruises you said she covered with make-up…her rib area isn't it?"
Eve nods. "Also her back at times…why?"
"When we talked…I just wanted to hold her close…I touched her sides by her waist. She winced from the pain of barely being touched there to the point she sucked in her breath to not want to scream. Suffered bruised & a few times broken ribs I know that sound too well from my own lips."
"She never asked to get taped, just the make-up to cover them for the ring."
"Who knows if she really knows how bad off her body is…we don't even know for sure cause she won't tell us for whatever reason. Today I told her everything that had been on my mind over the last few months."
"How she take it?"
"Better then I hoped for…I will be honest I was scared." Adam moved to sit in one of the chairs as Eve came over to sit in the other. "I broke down & kissed her."
"Hold on what?"
"Yeah…" He smiled with a nervous chuckle running a hand through his hair. "Just listening to her, seeing how much pain she was in…she felt unloved, unwanted…worthless…I just had to show her how untrue that was. I had to tell her & show her that she is loved, wanted & worth a lot to a few people at least…but to this fella in particular."
"How that go?"
"I..I thought I hurt her feelings somehow she was in tears after it. It broke my heart, so I started to walk away. I didn't get far before she called my name, her voice so soft, scared…" He closed his eyes remembering. "The tears were the pain others threw on her heart. She never…she never felt a kiss out of love. She was not sure how to take it at first."
"OK then?"
"She felt it was wrong, but asked if I would kiss her again. My god Eve I love her so much, but she is so broken & I don't see how I can put her back together."
"If she seems to be returning your feelings just take things slow with her. She knows now though, If Jay or the Hardy's get on your case cause of her age kick them swiftly in the butts & tell them it none of their business."
"That's not the problem Eve." Adam sighed lowering his head. "She is engaged to be married…soon."
"What? Adam I'm sorry."
"I am more sorry for her…she doesn't love the guy."
"Then why?"
"Arranged marriage."
"They still do those things."
"Apparently…but unless what I have heard isn't true, she can't marry the guy."
"Why?" Adam looked back at Eve.
"The man she is to marry is McIntyre."
"THAT LECHER?" Eve took a deep breath trying to calm down. "Sorry for yelling, but is there a girl in this company that…that….god I can't even call him a man, but I don't think there is a girls pants he hasn't tried to get into. Last I heard he settled on Tiffany…the perks of management must of appealed to him."
"Last I heard he talked her into marriage."
"But if that true…"
"I know…legally he can't marry Patty. We already told her & tried to talk to her brother to dissolve the arrangement. He won't do it despite what she said. Drew is denying it."
"I wish I knew what to say to help you both Adam…just know for now she had a bright smile to her. I think brighter then the day we met her."
"Good…I'm glad. I hope it help her fight back the hateful things her brother tries to tell her."
Patty got back to the room to see Stephen was still out she was glad as she went into the bathroom locking the door. She checked out the earrings in the mirror her fingers lightly moving over them. Her smiled beamed just a little more as she did. She sat on the edge of the tub removing the bag & the note.
'My dear sweet Patty,
You reading these words I guess I finally grew a set & told you how I felt about you. I hate standing by quietly while you are hurting, I do not know if it is verbal or physically you are hurting from & I don't care. I love you & not doing anything makes me feel almost guilty of causing the pain myself. I heard word you were to be married soon. I wish I had spoken sooner even though I don't know if it would of changed things. I was told the who & can't believe it…Patty he could never be faithful to you. I heard stories of too many skirts the man has chased while he is suppose to be waiting for you. I won't lie to you, I am far from a saint…but if I knew I had you waiting for me someday my eyes would never look at another woman let alone any other part of my body. Till next Patty.
Adam. Under it was his phone number & then Mark's with a notation if you ever need us just call.'
She pulled out her cell phone setting up two new contacts. The first *cinnchroí (Ones Heart as one long word) where she placed Adams number. The second #fíorchosaint (True Protect as one word) where she placed Mark's information. Placing the phone in her pocket for now she ready the letter one last time wishing she could keep it, but knew she couldn't dare let Stephen find it she painfully tore it up tossing the pieces in the toilet flushing them. Thinking a moment before she pulled her phone out calling Adam.
"Ello…aye…aye I goot them. They are very pretty thank you…he not in right now…I just wished to hear ya…I'll tell him the girls chipped in to get them for me…You don't need to do that…I don't need fancy nor expensive gifts…eve if you thin I deserve them, times the simplest of things can mean the most…Ya know the meanin of them don't ya?…Friendship, love, protecting of the heart. The design as a ring coveys a meanin just by how it is worn…perhaps I can give ya a leason another day, I dare not be on with ya too long…Thank ya & I so wish I could speak the same." She hangs up the phone moving back to the room stretching out the smile on her lips as she drift off to sleep.